coming up, a chat with a virginia teacher who was face-to-face with the president on monday. >>> cuba's seismic shift. a half million government workers getting pink slips. >>> gornlg i'm tony harris. those stories and your comments right here right now in the cnn newsroom. >>> a tea party favorite and a gop candidate locked in a tight race, a long-time congressman battles ethics charges and five opponents. it is primary election day in seven states and the district of columbia. we are spotlighting the hot races. paul steinhauser joining us live from washington, d.c. paul, delaware and, let's say, new hampshire top our list because of what we like to call the tea party factor. >> reporter: you are absolutely right. this last big round of primaries this year, and you've got that kind of crisis going on there on the republican side in the primaries. tea party backed candidates and conservative candidates taking on and gaining strength at the expense of the mainstream republican candidates. long-time did republican candidate mike castle is being challenged by christine o'donnell, backed by